Man electrocuted at El Paso International Airport

A contract worker at the El Paso International Airport was electrocuted Tuesday, the first work-related death at the airport since a man was sucked into an airplane engine in 2006, officials said.

Cheyenne Rhoades, 22, was found lying on the ground at about 4 a.m. under the east concourse at the airport, El Paso police spokesman Darrel Petry said.

Rhoades was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy showed that Rhoades died as a result of being electrocuted, Petry said.

Rhoades, of Avinger, Texas, was an electrical contractor for Johnson Controls Inc., which was doing work for the Airport Energy Operational Savings Project. This included retrofitting lights, window film installation, a central plant upgrade and installation of the Facility Management Systems, airport spokeswoman Liz Bellegarde said.

Details of how Rhoades was electrocuted were not released and it is not known if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct an investigation into the death.

Flights and security were not affected because of the death, Petry said.

The 2006 work-related death at the airport occurred when an aircraft mechanic was sucked into the engine of a Boeing 737.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6249. Follow him on Twitter @Amartinez31